Wet Chain Rust?

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2008-08-20 8:02 PM

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Expert
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Atlanta, GA
Subject: Wet Chain Rust?

I feel like a total dork asking about this, but my bike got wet on the drive home last weekend.  I thought I'd thoroughly dried her off, but now it looks like there might be a little bit of rust (orangish spots) on the chain.  Now what do I do?

I rode her today and she seems fine, should I lube the chain? 

2008-08-20 8:51 PM
in reply to: #1617618

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Pro
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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Wet Chain Rust?

You might be able to salvage the chain.  If you don't have a chain scrubber, take off the chain and soak it in some degreaser. Then let it air dry for 30-60 minutes so the degreaser drips off, and re-lube the chain.

If you have a chain scrubber, run the chain through with degreaser for 30 seconds or so.  Let it drip dry and lube.

But rust is really bad for the chain.  It will significantly decrease the responsiveness of the chain.  Always lube after getting wet (I mean the chain!)

2008-08-21 7:23 AM
in reply to: #1617618

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Wet Chain Rust?
If you can take the chain off the bike, so much the better. SRAM and Wipperman sell a quick disconnect for 9 speed; Wipperman for 10 speed (SRAM is semi-permanenet for 10). Shimano sells a 1 time replacement pin to reassemble the chain.

With the chain off the bike, you can get at it with mechanical scrubbing. I have a small handheld scrub brush I use with diluted citrus degreaser after the chain soaks fo ~30minutes. That gets most of the rust off from my winter / slop bike which I ride on salted, slushy wet roads from December through March. A good water rinse followed by a shake in some paint thinner, dry then lube and the chain is as good as new.

As gearboy suggested, mechanical scrubbing will get this diminished. Now might be the perfect time for a new quick-connect style chain for the $40 or so it'll cost you?
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